<article><a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Grab%20Philippines">Grab Philippines</a> said it will keep the <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Uber">Uber</a> app running in the country until April 15, partly in compliance with the order of the <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=PCC">Philippine Competition Commission</a> (PCC), the antitrust watchdog.
The PCC has ordered ride-hailing service provider Uber to continue operating its app for the entire duration of the agency&#8217;s motu proprio review of the Grab-Uber merger.</article>

<a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Grab%20Philippines">Grab Philippines</a> said it will keep the <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Uber">Uber</a> app running in the country until April 15, partly in compliance with the order of the <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=PCC">Philippine Competition Commission</a> (PCC), the antitrust watchdog.
The PCC has ordered ride-hailing service provider Uber to continue operating its app for the entire duration of the agency&#8217;s motu proprio review of the Grab-Uber merger.
However, Grab Philippines country head Brian Cu said the company can only keep the Uber app running until April 15 because of the operational costs that Grab will be bearing.
“Grab wishes to clarify that, although the Uber app continues to operate, it has limited functionality and little or no support,” Cu said.
Cu also noted that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has expressed concerns pertaining to customer support and safety issues arising from Uber’s limited operations.
PCC Chairman Arsenio M. Balisacan said Uber is capable of operating its ride-hailing app in the country despite its claim that it has already exited the Southeast Asia market.
“Uber is highlighting its exit, but what it does not emphasize enough is its integration with Grab. Thus, Uber is not truly exiting the Philippine market, but rather effectively merging their operations with Grab here. The deal makes Uber a part-owner of Grab,” Balisacan said.
Aside from ordering Uber to continue operating its app in the Philippines, the PCC has also earlier also imposed on Grab and Uber to maintain the independence of their business operations and other conditions prevailing prior to 25 March 2018.
These include ride-hailing and delivery platforms; pricing and payment policies including incentives and promotions to riders; product options; customer and rider database; and on-boarding of new partner drivers as well as the fees, charges, and incentives to partner drivers, among other measures.
Grab, however, said keeping the Uber app open increases the transaction costs of the parties, contrary to the spirit and rationale of interim measures.
“We hope that the PCC will sit with the parties to hear their sides and give a fair assessment of the concerns expressed by both parties and that any other action taken would take into account the practical hurdles that may lie across the parties’ paths,” Cu said in a statement posted on Grab Philippines’ website.
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Grab Philippines says can keep Uber app running only until April 15

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